Machar Can Only Come To Juba After The Pre-Transitional Period-SPLM-IO

The Sudan People’s Liberation Movement in Opposition (SPLM/A-IO) has turned down President Kiir’s invitation to Dr Riek Machar to visit Juba in what was termed confidence building between the two former enemies.

20 September 2018

Dr. Riek Machar [File photo]

By Ojwe Lumara

JUBA, 20 September 20 2018 [Gurtong]-This comes after the government of South Sudan on Tuesday said President Salva Kiir had invited the opposition leaders including Dr. Machar to Juba in a bid to build trust and confidence between the former enemies who are bound to form a Transitional Government in the coming months.

The Deputy Military spokesperson of the SPLM-IO in a statement on Wednesday said even though they welcomed president Kiir’s invitation for Dr Riek Machar to visit Juba, he (Machar) can only come to Juba after the Pre-Transitional period.

The Pre-Transitional period, according to the signed Revitalized Agreement on Resolution of Conflict in the Republic of South Sudan (RARCSS) expires 8 months after signing of the peace agreement.

“This is a good gesture from President Kiir but we all have to act in accordance to the signed Revitalized Agreement on the Resolution of Conflict in South Sudan not outside it,” Lam Paul Gabriel said. “Dr. Machar can only come to Juba when the implementation process is well and after the Pre-interim period elapsed, not before that,” he added.

Lam said the IO leadership acknowledged the invitation but the government should show seriousness in implementing the agreement before Dr. could come to Juba.

“The Cessation of Hostilities is not yet holding. Our Prisoners of War and the political detainees have not been released and our forces are not yet in Juba to protect Dr. Machar. These are some of the processes to be completed before he (Dr. Machar) comes to Juba,” he added.

President Kiir will travel this Friday to Khartoum to celebrate the signed peace agreement with members of the opposition organized by the Sudanese government.

Meanwhile, the Head of the UN mission in South Sudan, David Shearer said on Wednesday that trust was needed between the parties to facilitate the implementation of the Revitalized Agreement to resolve the conflict in South Sudan.

Addressing a news conference in Juba, David Shearer said that a lot of work still needed to be done to encourage trust between the parties as well as between the parties and the people of South Sudan.

“There is currently a key ingredient that is lacking. That is trust. Those who signed the agreement have in the past been former friends and foes. From my discussions with them, suspicion are still widespread,” Mr Shearer said.